In the water, in the data, and part of the community

For international masters students Faye Diederiks and David E. Carrasco-Rivera, Heron Island Research Station offered something a mainland lab couldn't: direct access to decades of coral reef data, world-class facilities, and a community of researchers working on one of the planet's most significant ecosystems.

Situated on the southern Great Barrier Reef, the station gives researchers and students direct access to one of the world's most biodiverse marine ecosystems. With long-term monitoring datasets and ongoing field research happening year-round, it gives students a foundation to conduct meaningful research from day one.

Both Faye and David came to Heron through the same supervisor, Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema, as part of their Masters in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea), an ERASMUS program. Both found the station offered far more than they'd anticipated.

The research

Faye's project drew on 20 years of seafloor survey data from Heron Reef to assess whether the reef is growing, shrinking, or holding steady. She looked at how disturbance events like bleaching and storms affect that balance, and what role different reef organisms play in keeping the reef resilient.

"Heron Island has a wealth of existing data that was ready for me to analyse," says Faye. "Because there is so much ongoing research, it made it easy to go there and contribute to field surveys, which gave me access to an amazing dataset for my master's thesis."

David's project built on a similar foundation of long-term field data, investigating whether satellite imagery could be used to upscale and effectively track changes in Heron Reef's benthic composition over time. The project addressed a significant gap in reef monitoring: traditional field-based methods cover only around 0.1 per cent of the reef.

"The goal was to see how effective satellite imagery was at picking up benthic changes and allowing for the upscaling of reef monitoring to get a better understanding of the reef," David says. The project resulted in a published paper and a story on UQ news.

"Dr Chris Roelfsema had mentioned the long-term field data and archive of satellite imagery that existed for Heron, so this immediately sparked my interest," David says. "Heron has also been the subject of many remote sensing studies, so there was previous research to build upon."

A shipwreck half submerged in the ocean.

The famous HMAS Protector shipwreck. Credit: Faye Diederiks

Researchers are given unparalleled access to marine life at HIRS. Credit: Faye Diederiks.

A day on the island

Life at the station moves with the water and the work, not the clock.

"Even though most researchers spend all day in the water while on Heron, most of us are fanatics and get up extra early to get in a fun snorkel in the channel before having breakfast and starting work," Faye says.

David's days followed a similar rhythm. "They were long days, but very fun days. We'd start early in the morning doing snorkel transects to collect photoquadrats, and in the afternoon we would do scuba diving transects," he says. "The late afternoon and early evening would focus on data processing and setting up for the next day."

Time away from work blurred easily into something else.

"Sometimes we would do fun snorkels around sunrise or sunset, and sometimes even do night walks to see nesting turtles or hatchlings depending on the season," David says.

For Faye, evenings brought the research community together. "Researchers will come together to debrief, enjoy the sunset, and have dinner as a group."

What the station makes possible

Both students point to the same combination: the location, the long-term data, and the people.

"The research station facilities are a huge asset," David says. "The boating and diving facilities and equipment are top tier. But one of the most important values the research station offers is the people who work and are based at the station. They are always helpful and welcoming, ensuring that our field work and stay are successful."

Faye echoes that. "While I didn't take part in any lab work myself, I was surprised at the facilities available," she says. "Having all the research equipment, workspace, and trained station staff readily available really helps ensure research projects can be carried out correctly and smoothly."

For David, what sets Heron apart is the combination of access and data that would be difficult to replicate anywhere else. "It is not easy to find another reef in the world with such high-quality facilities and so accessible for research," he says. "The long-term monitoring data can be used in so many different ways, which is also a difficult thing to find elsewhere."

A man scuba diving under water observing coral.

David during one of his underwater excursions to observe the coral reef. Credit: Chris Roelfsema.

A woman in a scuba suit preparing to dive into the water.

Faye's research required an up-close look at the reef. Credit: Faye Diederiks.

The community

The relationships formed at Heron often extend well beyond the research trip itself.

"The researchers working there are very friendly and like to interact. It's hard not to be in a great mood while staying on the Great Barrier Reef," Faye says. "It makes for really interesting conversation, and often you make great connections while simply preparing food in the kitchen. You become part of the community, and I'm fortunate enough to still work on Heron today, into my PhD."

David has found the same thing. "Not only do I love coming to Heron for the reef itself, but also because of the people I get to connect with every time I go," he says. The connections he's formed have led to published collaborations with researchers he'd never met in person. "This goes to show how important Heron becomes to the people that visit it, and because of that, everyone gets excited to collaborate and connect over the love of the reef."

Not every experience at the station has been straightforward. Faye's first visit coincided with the 2024 coral bleaching event.

"My most memorable moment is my colleagues coming up from a dive, both in tears," she says.

"Everyone connects deeply with the reef, and many have seen it year after year, so witnessing the damage myself as well as through the eyes of my coworkers still stays with me."

For David, the island's memorable moments are harder to narrow down: manta rays, turtle hatchlings making their way to the ocean, a night sky clear enough to trace the Milky Way, and sunsets watched from the jetty.

"Getting to give talks in the resort and see the interest of tourists in the research that scientists are conducting is also very rewarding," he says.

A turtle swimming amongst a school of fish.

Credit: David E. Carrasco Rivera.

Researchers get an up-close look at the abundant marine life in and around the island. Credit: Faye Diederiks.

Is Heron Island right for your project?

A person in a scuba suit underwater looking at a turtle.

Credit: Faye Diederiks.

Both Faye and David have straightforward advice for students weighing up a master's project at HIRS.

"I can't recommend Heron Island enough for research projects. It's an incredible environment both above and below the water, and the research station, its staff, and facilities make it really special," Faye says.

"If you're in doubt, it's always worth reaching out to the station beforehand to ask about the feasibility of your potential research there and see what data is already available."

David puts it simply: "It's hard to imagine someone coming to Heron and not feeling inspired. In Heron you connect with nature in such a way that cannot be put into words."

And the community, both say, is something that stays with you. "Once you have been to Heron, you also become part of a very supportive community that will embrace you and support you in your journey," David says, "which becomes very important in finding opportunities during and even after your master's degree."